Nanos Poll Reveals Liberal Slide Continues Post-Budget
As investment and healthcare professionals flee, the latest budget deepens the divide, failing to regain trust among Canadians.
In the wake of the latest budget announcement, it's become painfully clear that the Liberal Party's strategy isn't just failing—it's backfiring spectacularly. As the latest Nanos poll reveals, the Conservatives are pulling ahead with an impressive 41.8 percent to the Liberals' meager 23.3 percent. What's the reason for this stark divide? Competence, or rather, the stark lack thereof in the current leadership.
Let's talk about competence. You can't lead a country based on who your dad was. You need to know what you're doing, and that's where Trudeau falls flat. The latest budget is a disaster. It’s pushing small businesses away, driving doctors out of the country, and targeting capital gains. How does that help the middle class? It doesn't. It's no wonder that 34.9 percent of Canadians prefer Pierre Poilievre as their next Prime Minister, while Trudeau's down at 18.4 percent. That's a massive gap. This country needs someone who knows how to lead, not someone who's coasting on family legacy. If you want someone who gets it, who has actual competence, then Poilievre is your guy. The Liberals have shown they’re more interested in grandstanding than governing, and the numbers are proving it.
Canada's healthcare system is in crisis. The latest Nanos numbers are sounding alarms for the Liberal Party as their support crumbles. But here's the real problem: this latest budget is pushing doctors out of the country. That's right—these folks, who kept us afloat during the pandemic, are now considering packing up and heading to the U.S. because of a new capital gains tax. If you’ve been to Toronto General Hospital lately, you're familiar with the wait times. Seven hours to eight hours!
So, let’s dive into the consequences of this misguided budget. We're going to break down an interview with a Canadian doctor who's considering crossing the border to the U.S. They wanted to remain anonymous, and I don't blame them.
Dan Knight: I'm researching this new proposed budget, and I was surprised to see that, as a consequence, doctors are being targeted by this new capital gains tax. As a result, there is a serious consideration among Canadian doctors to leave for the U.S. Can you explain why so many doctors are considering crossing the border?
Doctor: Sure, there are a few reasons.
First, there's the level of support. In the U.S., as a doctor, you usually get a scribe, a nurse, and a medical office assistant (MOA). In Canada, I have to pay for that myself, and frankly, I don't know any doctor who can afford both a nurse and an MOA.
Second, the pace is significantly different. In Canada, I see 40-50 patients a day, 4-5 days a week. In the U.S., most job offers are for around 15 patients a day. That difference is massive.
Third, the retirement benefits are better in the U.S. Most U.S. job offers come with 401k matching. In Canada, I have to pay into the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) twice—once as a business owner and again as an employee of my own company. Plus, there's Employment Insurance (EI), which I pay into but can't claim if I get injured.
Fourth, burnout and paperwork are a huge issue. In Canada, I spend hours reviewing lab results, often getting multiple copies due to system inefficiencies. I also spend hours trying to get specialists to accept my patients, with a lot of rejection along the way. It adds up to about 20 hours a week of unpaid labor. In the U.S., there's more admin support to handle this, and you can focus on seeing patients.
Fifth, income. You work about 30% less in the U.S. for more money, lower taxes, and a lower cost of living. It's hard to compete with that.
Dan Knight: It sounds like a significant difference. Given those factors, do you think other doctors are also considering moving south because of this new budget?
Doctor: Absolutely. There are multiple threads in different physician online message-boards discussing the exams, taxes, visas, and how to move to the U.S. It's definitely a growing sentiment that we should at least explore our options. This budget was just the straw that broke the camel's back.
Dan Knight: That's pretty intense. I know you can't share specific stories due to privacy rules, but can you describe the general mood among Canadian doctors right now?
Doctor: It's one of deep frustration. After the pandemic, we were called heroes. Now, we're in a family medicine crisis, begging for help, and we're labeled as ultra-rich. It’s infuriating. There's nothing more demoralizing than going from being praised to being vilified, all while the government adds more red tape. And then you expect us to be compassionate and empathetic with patients when we're treated like this? It's unrealistic.
Dan Knight: That sounds really demoralizing. One last question: how long does it usually take to get paid after you submit an invoice to the government? And what’s the process if you have to appeal?
Doctor: It's a mess. It takes 20 seconds to submit a bill through the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), but if there's an error, a simple correction can take 3-5 minutes. An appeal due to an expired invoice can take 10-20 minutes, and then you wait 3-9 months to hear back. Half the physicians don't even understand the payment rules well enough to know they're underbilling. It's that complicated.
Dan Knight: Wow, I had no idea it was that bad. Thanks for sharing your insights and taking the time to help patients. Good luck, and I hope things get better for you and your colleagues.
Doctor: Thank you. Let's hope things turn around.
Final thoughts
Look, my fellow Canadians, let’s get something straight—Justin Trudeau doesn’t grasp the hardships he’s inflicting on the middle class, and why would he? He’s a trust fund kid who rode into the Prime Minister’s office on the coattails of his father’s legacy, leveraging nothing but his last name. He’s never had to understand why hiking fuel prices to get to your job is a bad move for Canadians. He doesn’t grasp how making both fuel and fertilizer more expensive drives up food costs. He’s all too happy to tax us into oblivion while allowing imports from China—where they don’t pay the same carbon taxes—to flood our markets without a second thought.
He has single-handedly pushed an entire generation away from home ownership. Don’t be fooled, despite what the mainstream media tells you, there isn’t just a housing crisis—this is an immigration crisis. Too many people and not enough homes, and while Statistics Canada has the numbers on available shelters, his government simply doesn’t care.
He’s driving away our doctors, our investment, and our manufacturing capabilities. Make no mistake, those flashy new battery plants are being paid for by you, the taxpayer. These companies aren’t flocking to Canada for our business-friendly environment like they do to Florida or Texas, which boast low tax policies—they’re here for corporate welfare. And don’t even get me started on our healthcare system. If you’re a parent, forced to wait hours for your sick or injured child to see a doctor, tell me—what’s seriously right about that? Considering what you, the taxpayer, are shelling out for healthcare, you ought to be demanding something different, something better.
Come election time, I hope you remember these truths when you make your choice at the polls. Because rest assured, I know I will be making the right choice. It’s high time we had leaders who understand the value of hard work, the importance of genuine support for the middle class, and who enact policies that reflect the real needs of Canadians—not just those of the elites or the well-connected. It’s time for competence, not just more of the same entitled leadership. Make your vote count.
Well written and scary times ahead for Canada. It seems every election is the most important for the country. In my opinion the next federal election will dictate how Canada can get back on track or go deeper down the rabbit hole.
What ever happened to politicians that but their country before themselves ??
Regarding "tax-payers", they do not include Canadian doctors, who are paid by tax-payers. Also teachers, politicians, all government workers. Doctors after-tax investments may be their best/only retirement avenue, and I don't support increasing taxes on them, but the only true tax-payer is in the shrinking private sector.